1. Water science gaps & media messages? Prof. Mike Young Research Chair, Water Economics & Management The University of Adelaide 5 th World Conference of Science Journalists, Melbourne, 17 th April 2007

2. 2 Water accounting and trade The role of water managers is to put in place arrangements to ensure that  When some-one takes more water, some-one else takes less. and  when less water is available to ensure that if one person takes the same amount as in the past, someone else or the environment can take a lot less! Well-designed urban and rural water allocation and trading systems offer one way of ensuring that this happens. But trading will not solve or prevent over-allocation from occurring or re-occurring.

3. 3 Water science and science journalism Much science and much science journalism is about 1.Trying to understand complex processes  Understanding when the assumptions behind models result in flawed recommendations. 2. Trying to understand how biophysical processes science and humans interact  Feedback  Change  Evolution

4. 4 Planning for Change – River Murray Storage Inflows 11yrs. 8yrs. Need a moving average cap, not a fixed line cap

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6. 6 Robust allocation & trading systems Single licence systems crash! Water licence Entitlement Shares in perpetuity Bank-like Allocations Use licences with limits & obligations Need “robust” systems with enough controls to ensure that one would expect the system to work without fundamental change for 100’s of years.

7. 7 Robust Governance s.9 The Authority, in the performance of its functions, must pursue the objectives of  Ensure over-allocation does not recur  Efficient and cost effective management  Maximise economic efficiency in use of MDB water  Ensure accountability  Achieve cost-recovery targets s.10 The Authority must do all things that are necessary or convenient to be done for, or in connection with, the performance of its functions.

8. 8 General media messages The role of science journalism is to 1.Articulate reality 2.Critically review the validity of assumptions behind models Check for & against reality 3.Communicate policy opportunities

9. 9 Specific media messages 1.Design institutions for change – it will occur! 2.Define the MDB cap as a moving average 3.Allocate a minimum for the end of each river system 200 GL pa to the Murray Mouth not 1850 GL for South Australia 4.Unbundle licences and issue users separate shares, allocations and use approvals 5.Build apolitical governance systems to deliver robust outcomes

10. The future depends upon how we talk about it Contact: Prof Mike Young Water Economics and Management Email: Mike.Young@adelaide.edu.au Phone: +61-8-8303.5279 Mobile: +61-408-488.538 www.myoung.net.auwww.myoung.net.au